Is NOC 82021 (Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services) a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?

Yes. From November 3, 2026, NOC 82021 is in the 1.5× tier of IRCC’s high-wage list, meaning its national median wage is at least 1.5 times, but less than 2 times, the median wage of the Canadian workforce (2023 to 2025 data).

How many CRS points does NOC 82021 give?

With 12 months or more of skilled Canadian work in NOC 82021, you add 40 points to your Canadian work-experience points. For example, a single candidate with 3 years of Canadian work goes from 64 to 104 points. A qualifying job offer in NOC 82021 is worth 70 points instead. You get the higher of the two routes, never both, capped at 150 points (140 with a spouse).

Do I need to earn 1.5× the median wage myself?

No. The tier comes from the occupation’s national median wage, not from your own salary. What matters is that your job’s main duties match NOC 82021 and that the work is skilled, paid, Canadian experience.

Can I combine months in different high-wage jobs?

Months here combine with months in 2× occupations for the 40-point add-on, and with any high-wage occupation for the 20-point add-on.

Which Express Entry programs accept NOC 82021?

As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Which category draws include NOC 82021?

It is on IRCC’s list for the Trade occupations category, so you can also be invited in those category draws.

1.5× median wageTEER 2NOC 2021 Version 1.0

NOC 82021: Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services

Contractors and supervisors in oil and gas drilling and services supervise and coordinate the activities in drilling for oil or gas, operating service rigs, or providing oil and gas well services. They are employed by drilling and well service contracting companies and petroleum producing companies. Contractors may be self-employed.

Express Entry eligibility

Skilled work (TEER 0 to 3): yes, TEER 2.
Canadian Experience Class: counts as skilled Canadian work (1 year in the last 3 years).
Federal Skilled Worker Program: counts as skilled work (1 year of continuous work in the last 10 years).
Federal Skilled Trades Program: an eligible skilled trade (2 years in the last 5 years).
High-wage occupation (from November 3, 2026): yes, 1.5× tier.

TEER 2: Occupations that usually need a college diploma, an apprenticeship of 2 or more years, or supervisory duties. Every program has other requirements too, such as language test results and, for FSW, a points test.

Category-based draws

Trade occupations
At least 12 months of full-time work (or the same amount part-time) in this occupation within the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad.

Category lists checked on canada.ca on 2026-10-17. IRCC category-based selection

CRS points for work in NOC 82021

With 12+ months of Canadian work here, from November 3, 2026, by years of skilled Canadian work:

Canadian work CRS points with 12 or more months in NOC 82021
Years in Canada	Single, today	Single, Nov 3	With spouse, today	With spouse, Nov 3
1	40	80	35	75
2	53	93	46	86
3	64	104	56	96
4	72	112	63	103
5 or more	80	120	70	110

See Canadian work points and the median-wage rule.

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Supervise, co-ordinate and schedule the activities of workers who drill for oil and gas, operate service rigs or provide oil and gas well services
Establish methods to meet work schedules and co-ordinate work activities with other departments
Requisition and procure materials and supplies
Ensure appropriate control measures are in place to protect the health and safety of workers
Resolve work problems and recommend measures to improve productivity and safety
Train workers in job duties, safety procedures and company policies
Recommend personnel actions such as hirings and promotions
Review, audit and approve workers' paperwork and complete proper documentation
Prepare production and other reports
May set up machines and equipment.

For Express Entry your duties must match the lead statement and most of the main duties above.

Example job titles

fracturing supervisor
multi-service operator - oil field services
rig manager

Employment requirements

Completion of secondary school is required.
Completion of college or petroleum industry approved training courses is required.
Extensive experience in the occupations supervised is required.
A two-year college diploma in petroleum engineering technology may be required.
Certificates in first aid, hydrogen sulphide awareness, blowout prevention, well control, workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) or other safety and technical subjects are required and are obtained by completing short courses.

Similar jobs with a different code

Common questions

Is NOC 82021 (Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services) a high-wage occupation for Express Entry?: Yes. From November 3, 2026, NOC 82021 is in the 1.5× tier of IRCC’s high-wage list, meaning its national median wage is at least 1.5 times, but less than 2 times, the median wage of the Canadian workforce (2023 to 2025 data).
How many CRS points does NOC 82021 give?: With 12 months or more of skilled Canadian work in NOC 82021, you add 40 points to your Canadian work-experience points. For example, a single candidate with 3 years of Canadian work goes from 64 to 104 points. A qualifying job offer in NOC 82021 is worth 70 points instead. You get the higher of the two routes, never both, capped at 150 points (140 with a spouse).
Do I need to earn 1.5× the median wage myself?: No. The tier comes from the occupation’s national median wage, not from your own salary. What matters is that your job’s main duties match NOC 82021 and that the work is skilled, paid, Canadian experience.
Can I combine months in different high-wage jobs?: Months here combine with months in 2× occupations for the 40-point add-on, and with any high-wage occupation for the 20-point add-on.
Which Express Entry programs accept NOC 82021?: As a TEER 2 occupation it counts as skilled work for the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Which category draws include NOC 82021?: It is on IRCC’s list for the Trade occupations category, so you can also be invited in those category draws.

Other 1.5× high-wage occupations

More in supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production

Find any NOC code · All high-wage occupations · Source: Statistics Canada, NOC 2021 Version 1.0

See your CRS score with NOC 82021

Quick CRS adds up every factor and shows your score under today’s rules and the rules from November 3, 2026, side by side. Free, about 3 minutes.

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